MADISONVILLE, Ky. (5/11/14) – Alison Grimes made a whistle stop tour of western Kentucky this weekend and made a stop Saturday in Madisonville.

Grimes was introduced by state Sen. Jerry Rhoads and was accompanied by numerous elected Democratic officials. Grimes, who is Kentucky Secretary of State, is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and will face the winner of the Republican primary for the seat currently held by Mitch McConnell.

Rhoads asked the crowd of about 40 if they had “ever gone to Washington and tried to get an appointment to see McConnell,” and added “don’t waste your time. It would be easier to see the Pope.”

Rhoads said that McConnell was not supporting “working families”.

Grimes said she supported an increase in the minimum wage. She did not say how much she would support.

“When we grow the middle class, we all thrive,” she said.

Grimes said that Washington is not working for the people, and that McConnell has no vision. He is the center of gridlock in Washington D.C., she said.

“We need someone in Washington to say, 'Yes,'” she said.

Grimes accused McConnell of being against women (a common accusation by Democratic candidates in this campaign cycle) and vowed she would support equal pay for women. She referred to “79 percent” which Democrats claim is the percentage of pay women receive compared to men.

She said her top priority is putting Kentuckians to work, and attacked McConnell on jobs.

“We’ve lost more coal jobs under his watch than ever before” she said. “We need someone who is not just empty rhetoric but someone, who is a champion, not just for the jobs we have today; but, for the jobs for tomorrow. And, will work to put hard working Kentuckians back to work. McConnell is the senator from yesterday when it comes to minimum wage, the senator from yesterday when it comes to women’s rights, the senator from yesterday when it comes to keeping jobs here in the Commonwealth.”